Three players finished in double figures and St. John’s shot 51.6 percent in the second half to pull away and defeat NCAA Division II squad Sonoma State, 73-55, in exhibition action in front of 3,324 fans at Carnesecca Arena.

Amir Garrett and Phil Greene IV each scored a team-high 17 points, while JaKarr Sampson added 14 points and seven rebounds to lead the Red Storm.

Christian Jones added eight points and seven boards and Chris Obekpa chipped in with four points, seven rebounds and a game-high seven blocked shots. St. John’s shot 32-of-69 (46.4 percent) for the game and turned 27 Sonoma State turnovers into 27 points.

“We have to give a lot of credit to Coach Fuscaldo and his team for playing with a lot of poise,” said head coach Steve Lavin. “At halftime we addressed our biggest concerns: rebounding and defending the perimeter by getting to shooters, pressuring without fouling, and driving shooters off the 3-point line and turning them into drivers.”

St. John’s concluded exhibition play against Concordia (Ill.) at Carnesecca Arena on Nov. 6. The game had a Coaches vs. Cancer theme, featuring cancer awareness programs and initiatives, and fans encouraged to “Dress like Coach Lavin” by wearing sport coats and sneakers.

St. John’s women dominate in exhibition matchup

St. John's 99

Farmingdale 24

Rookie guard Ashley Perez showed her stuff in her collegiate debut wearing the St. John’s uniform as she paced the Red Storm with 22 points in Saturday’s 99-24 exhibition win over Long Island-neighbor Farmingdale State.

Perez was the leading scorer of five St. John’s players who scored in the double digits. Senior guard Shenneika Smith also had a 20-point performance in the opening contest at Carnesecca Arena against the Division III Rams.

St. John's raced out to a 50-12 halftime lead behind Thompson and Smith who each had 12 points at the half.

First-year head coach Joe Tartamella and the Red Storm will officially open the 2012-13 season at the WBI Tip Off Invitational presented by Sport Tours in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Red Storm will play Texas in the season-opener on Friday, Nov. 9, at 3:30 p.m. St. John’s will face UCF on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m.